The Wine Fairy

Free wine is good wine, for the most part. All but the most hardened wine snobs can generally agree on that proposition.

And yet, the more you learn about wine–the more you explore and taste–the more it seems that generic, mass-produced wine loses its appeal. Even if you don’t have to pay for it. Sure, you’ll drink what’s on offer at the wedding reception or work party. You may even accept the little sample cup of Woodbridge or La Crema as you push your cart through the grocery store.

But a nefarious lifestyle creep has set in. To find wine that excites your tastebuds, you have to look farther and travel further. Usually you have to spend more, too.

These specialty wine shops know what they are doing, getting us all hooked on the good stuff and luring us away from basic wine forever. It’s an insidious trap–which is why I’ll gladly take advantage of a free tasting when I have the chance.

There are several friendly and well-provisioned bottle shops in DFW, but today we’re zooming in on Pogo’s Wine & Spirits on West Lovers Lane. A fixture of Inwood Village since the 1980s, Pogo’s sells both wine and liquor and has an impressive array of premium and collectible bottles from around the world–as well as your regular hosting necessities, like chilled Prosecco and mixers. The winos of the r/wine Reddit community often cite Pogo’s a must-see for wine enthusiasts passing though Dallas. (It helps that it’s just a couple of blocks from Love Field Airport.)

But one of the most unique and exciting things about Pogo’s is their complimentary Saturday afternoon tastings. You can walk right in and taste a selection of wines or spirits (from one or two featured brands or distributors) for no charge. Vendor visits are usually from 1 PM – 3 PM or 2 PM – 4 PM. (Check their calendar for upcoming scheduled events.)

The wine tastings are usually themed and offer the opportunity to compare/contrast wines across a region, variety, or production style. Recent wine events have included “The Grape Debate” comparative Sauvignon Blanc tasting (“Team Mineral or Team Tropical?”) and the “Summer Spanish Stunners” featuring party-friendly wines of Spain.

Last weekend, I stopped in for a brilliant tasting of German and Austrian wines from Skurnik Wines of New York City. Pours included a luxurious sparkling rosé of Pinot Noir and Zweigelt, Grüner Veltliners in two divergent styles, and German Rieslings from the Rheingau and Nahe regions. As a bonus, I tried two tequilas from Barrica Azul. And while browsing the stacks, I spied several hard-to-find and interesting wines–including one of those cult Bandol rosés I keep hearing so much about.

So the next time your at Kroger on a Saturday and their wine aisle just isn’t cutting it, head on down to the Park Cities for a tasting. You will leave with a smile–and maybe even a new favorite bottle! (And for the record, The Wine Fairy is Team Tropical.) 🍍

What: Complimentary Saturday tastings

Where: Pogo’s Wine & Spirits, 5360 West Lovers Lane Suite 200, Dallas, TX 75209

Wines Tasted (8/16/2025):

Bründlmayer Brut Rosé Sekt Austria (NV) – $58

Nikolaihof Federspiel Grüner Veltliner Wachau (2021) – $48

Hirsch Ried Lamm Erste Lage Grüner Veltliner Kamptal (2021) – $83

Georg Breuer “GB Sauvage” Riesling Trocken Rheingau (2021) – $33

Dönnhoff Estate Riesling Nahe (2023) – $29

Review disclosure: I was not compensated or provided any free products for this review. Opinions expressed on The Wine Fairy blog are entirely my own.